Drug Resistance - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if the urine infection that I suffer from is resistant to a particular antibiotic?

A: The urine should initially be sent for culture and sensitivity tests to a laboratory. During culture, the urine sample is kept on a medium where bacteria grow if they are present in the sample. This confirms that bacteria have caused the infection. The bacteria are then exposed to small amount of antibiotics in the same medium. If the antibiotic kills them, they are said to be sensitive to the antibiotic. If not, they are said to be resistant to the antibiotic.

In cases where culture and sensitivity tests are not done, if a person does not respond to a particular antibiotic, the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the drug.

Q: I was prescribed antibiotics for five days but am already feeling well after two days. Can I stop the drug?

A: Antibiotics should always be taken for the prescribed period to ensure that the infecting organism is completely eliminated.

Q: How can I as a common man prevent drug resistance?

A: You can prevent drug resistance by taking antimicrobials only on prescription and taking then in the prescribed dose for the prescribed duration.